Inwang jesaekdo (Scene of Inwangsan Mountain After Rain) by Jeong Seon

Basic information

Designation

National Treasure No.216

Category

Painting

Era

조선 영조 27년(1751)

Designated year

1984

Location

용산구, 서울특별시— 서울특별시 용산구 서빙고로 137 (용산동6가, 국립중앙박물관)

Coordinates

37.538427, 126.965444

The best landscape painter was Jeong Seon (Pen-name: Gyeomjae) (1676-1759) in the latter half of Joseon Dynasty. He discarded Chinese styles and created unique new themes based on Korean scenes. Jeong Seon was particularly fond of Inwangsan Mountain, a scenic peak around Seoul, from which he produced a great masterpiece (138.2cm X 79.2cm). After rain, the scene of the rugged Inwangsan Mountain was especially attractive with fog thickening in the valley. Jeong Seon didn't miss the chance to draw it into a piece of work with elaborate skill which looks so lifelike. Getting wet from the rain, the rockwall in the back looks heavy and enormous. For this, the painter used the top-down method of brushwork in the repeated way with much India ink. The ridges and trees are depicted in black in the same way as unraveling threads down, while the fog in white, which makes them in vivid contrast, the peaks and valleys of the mountain. Among his 400 pieces of work, this is acknowledged as the most prominent masterpiece with extreme creative skill.

Location